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E.;L. SMHH.

ENVELOP 0R FILE.

APPLICATIOR man SEPT. 5. ma. 7

Patented July 8, 1919.

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E. L. SMITH ENVELOP 0R FILE.

1 APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 5, 1913'. Patented July 8, 1919' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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ERNEST L. SMITH, OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH.

A ENVELOP OR FILE.

Application filed September 5, 1918.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, ERNEST L. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Salt Lake City, in the county of Salt Lake and State of Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Envelops or Files, of which the following is a specification.

This invention pertains to envelops designed primarily for transmission of papers through the mails, and its purpose is to pro duce a container which may be quickly and plainly addressed to a plurality of points in succession, and in any order or sequence desired.

In a secondary field of use the envelop will serve as a file jacket or container for transmitting from one oificial or employee to another, successively, the gradually accumulating papers or documents pertaining to any given transaction of more or less routine character. By such use, the papers pertinent to each transaction or subject will be kept together, and properly identified with the subject to which they pertain; the necessity of marking up and indorsing a number of file jackets or containers therefor will be obviated; the same container may be used continuously until worn out; and the labor of writing out a new address for each transmission will be avoided.

In carrying out my invention I employ an envelop or container of the class having a window or opening through which may be displayed any one of several addresses, printed or otherwise produced upon a card placed within the container and adapted to be positioned to bring the desired address opposite the window or opening; but I have so devised the container, address card and attendant parts as to simplify the manipulation or positioning of the card,to prevent interference therewith by the contained papers, and to prevent the address card from getting out of place or entering among such contained papers. Where transactions are numerous and more or less extended, a very large saving of time, labor, and material is found to result from the use of the improved container.

The novel features of the invention are susceptible of embodiment in varying forms, several of which are here shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view of the en- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 8, 1919. Serial No. 252,699.

velop, file jacket or container in its preferred form, with a portion of the outer jacket broken away;

Fig. 2, a somewhat similar view half of the front of the outer jacket cut away to show the construction and relative arrangement of the several parts;

Fig. 3, a section on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. at, a section on the line of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5, a perspective view of the envelop with its parts opened out or laid fiat to show a modified embodiment of the invention;

Fig. (3, a sectional view of the same on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5, the envelop being shown folded;

Figs. 7 and 8, perspective views illustrating a third embodiment of the invention, the parts opened out flat as in Fig. 5, Fig. 7 showing the outer face and Fig. 8 the inner ace of the outer jacket;

Fig. 9, a sectional view of the envelop or container folded to completed form.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to f inclusive, A indicates the envelop or container proper, comprising the usual front and rear folds or members 1 and 2, which latter may be divided or single, sealing flap 3, and connecting flap 4, the flaps being indicated by dotted lines. These may be of any common form and dimensions, and the sealing flap 3 may be at one end or at a side as pre ferred, the dotted lines here indicating end location. When opening at the side an additional connecting flap 5 is provided, as in Figs. 5, 7 and 8. In the front fold 1 there is formed a window 6, through which to display any one of several addresses written or printed upon an address card 7 placed within the envelop immediately back of the front fold 1 thereof. This window may be a simple opening, an opening covered with transparent paper or the like, or a space of corresponding outline rendered transparent by the use of suitable chemical preparations, all of these plans being old and well known. It may extend lengthwise or width-wise as preferred.

The address card extends beyond the ends of the window, to or nearly to the boundaries of the envelop. It may be guided by the folded edges of the envelop itself, or by a sheet 8 which is placed back of the card to separate it from the contents of the envelop. In practice I prefer to employ the sheet 8 in all cases, and to cement its oppobut with site extremities to the inner face of the front fold or section 1 of the envelop, so that it may not get out of place. In Figs.

1 and 2 the lined space 9 indicates the ce-.

mented surface which adheres to the front wall or section of the envelop, and it will be seen by reference to Fig. fl: that a slight bend 10 is made along the inner boundary of the cemented surface, which forms a guide for the end of the address card. While this'is deemed the preferable construction, the sheet 8 may be left loose, in which event the folded edge will serve thus to guide card 7.

In Figs. 1 and 2, two addresses-are mdicated on card 7, one above the other, but there may be a series of such addresses, limited only by the dimensions of the card. To facilitate positioning card 7 to display the selected address, and to retainsuch address opposite the window 6, a flexible band 11 of any suitable material, as paper or tape, is provided, its ends being carried through narrow slits or openings 12, 12, to the outside of the envelop or jacket. By pulling upon one or the other end of the band or tape 11 the card may be shifted to brmg to the window any address upon it. If there be buttwo addressesand the card be of such measurement in the direction of movement that itsupper or its lower edge will reach one of the slits 12 whenever the card is properly positioned, it may be retained at the-adjustment so given by merely pasting upon the end of the band or tape pulled in making the adjustment, and upon the face of the-envelop at each side of the band, a small strip 13 of gummed paper.

If'more than two addresses are provided, bothends of the band or tapemay be secured in this or equivalent manner.

This embodiment of the invention is simple, inexpensive, and efficient, and produces an envelop, file, or container freed from projections which might catch upon or be engaged by other envelops or containers, or might interfere with or injure the feeding mechanism of postmarking and stamp-canceling machines when the envelops are transmitted by mail. The strip 13 of paper or other suitable material holds the card securely in position, yet may be readily severed when necessary to free the card for adjustment.

In Figs. 5 and 6 I have shown the ends of the card 7 carried into guiding pockets 14, each formed by pasting three of the boundaries of a strip of paper or other suitable material to the inner face of the front wall of the envelop. This permits the use of a card 7 of smaller dimensions. In said figures, an endless band 11 is shown in lieu of theband with free ends shown in Figs. 1 and. 2. This endless band, which may have an elastic section 11", is carried through slits or openings 12 and 12 to the outside face of the envelop and back to the inside, and serves to move the card to position any desired address carried by it. The elasticity of the band 11 may itself suflice to hold it against accidental movement, owing to the resulting friction where it passes through the slits 12 and 12 but a light spring 15 may be secured to the envelop or container and arranged to press upon the band 11 if greater security of holding be desired.

It will be found desirable to employ the sheet 8 under this construction, though it may be omitted from all the embodiments here shown. It may be left detached from the envelop or cemented thereto along its ends or at points sufficient to retain it in proper position.

Fig. 6 shows the relation of the different folds of the jacket, the address card, and the tape.

Fig. 7 shows the outer faces and Fig. S theinner faces of the envelop or container with a slightly different arrangement of the address card, tape, and tape fastener or holder. Here the address card 7 has its ends slitted to form on each three tongues, 7 7 and 7 of which the middle one of each set is carried under a band or strap 16 formed by cutting two parallel slits in the front wall or section of the envelop or jacket, somewhat within the length of card 7. The tongues 7 being thus held beneath the band 16, prevent displacement of the address card. To prevent other en-velops entering the slits made to produce bands or straps 16, I cement on the outer face of the envelop, strips 17 of paper orother suitable material of dimensions somewhat greater than the bands 16, thus covering the slits but leaving the bands and the tongues 7 free. 7

The card 7 is adjusted by a band or tape 11, as in Figs. 1 and 2, the ends of which are in this instance provided with loops 18 of resilient wire, fashioned to be passed over and to engage with low metallic studs 19 made fastto the front outer face of the envelop or jacket. Obviously, any equivalent and well known detachable fastening may beemployed. For instance, the band may be in the form of a string suitably made fast to the address card, and having its free ends carried to the front of the envelop, each to wind about an eyelet provided with a wide flange or with a disk of paper, as in the common fastener used for second and third-class mail packages. 7

The closing flap 3 may be provided with any usual or known means for permanently sealing it, or for holding it temporarily closed but permitting it to be readilyropened. In practice I prefer to use as a sealing means, Where the envelop or container is used for first-class mail matter, a gummed or pasted strip of paper or fabric, 20, attaching the normally free edge of flap 3 to the rear wall or section of the envelop, as this may be readily cut or broken without injuring the envelop or impairing its further usefulness. The point of the flap may if desired be inserted in a slit 21 preparatory to such sealing.

It will be seen from the foregoing that I have produced a very practical envelop, file, or container, suitable for use in a wide field. Actual daily use in caring for papers and documents and facilitating their transmission and examination, with a. minimum expenditure of time and use of material, has demonstrated its value.

Iaving thus described my invention what claim is 1. An envelop or container provided with a window or opening in its front section; an address card or sheet located in rear of said front section and bearing a plurality of addresses; and a tape or band attached to said card or sheet and having its ends brought to the outside of the serving to adjust the same or another of the addresses opposite the window or opening.

2. An envelop or container provided with a window or opening through which to expose an address; an address card or sheet within the container provided with a plurality of addresses; a tape or band attached to said address card or sheet by which to move the same; and means for holding said tape or band against accidental movement.

3. In combination With an envelop or container having a window or opening; a card or sheet in rear of said window bearing a plurality of addresses; a tape or band attached to said address card; and a holding device for making the tape or band fast to the envelop, and serving to hold the band against accidental movement or displacement.

4. In combination with an envelop or container provided with a Window or opening, an address card in rear of said opening provided with a plurality of addresses and movable relatively to the Window or opening; and a cover sheet within the container serving to cover the address card and prevent the contents of the container from coming into contact therewith.

5. In combination with an envelop or container having a window in its front wall or section and openings above and below the same, an address card within the envelop bearing a plurality of addresses; a band connected With said card and having its ends carried through said openings; and a gummed strip securing said band to the face of the envelop and thereby holding it and the address card against accidental movement.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

ERNEST L. SMITH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

